Month

August 2007

Southport / AU. (rfg) Australian Retail Food Group Limited (RFG), which this year swallowed up Brumby´s Bakeries, is starting to see the dough rise. The Southport based group, chaired by John Cowley, announces a profit of 7,5 million AUD - a 26,7 percent increase on last financial year.

Manila / PH. (jfc) Jollibee Foods Corporation, operator of the Philippines largest fast food network, is a restaurant chain that has also locations in the United States, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Dubai and Brunei. It is an American style fast-food restaurant with Filipino-influenced dishes specializing in chicken, burgers and spaghetti.

Lagos / NG. (bbc / tto) «The strike is absolutely shameless and shows no concern at all for the common man», people say. «They are just responding to market pressures», say the others. Both parties are talking about bread, flour, other raw materials and the nationwide strike of the Nigerian Master Bakers and Caterers Association.

Kuala Lumpur / MY. (mnn) The trans fatty acids (trans fats or TFA) issue in the United States has prompted a significant increase in palm oil use by the food industry in that country, a top official of the Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils (ISEO) in Washington said to Malaysian National News Agency.

Lupfig / CH. (hag) The Swiss Hiestand Group is on track to achieve its sales target of 700 million CHF for the full year, and all its other stated goals. Hiestand boosted its sales by 49,7 percent to 353.2 million CHF in the first six months of 2007.

Nuremberg / DE. (gfk) Late summer has seen a slightly gloomier consumer climate this year. While buying propensity remained generally stable, the economic outlook and income expectations were slightly down on their previous strong position.

Kansas City / MO. (ibc) Interstate Bakeries Corporation (IBC) will exit the bread market in Southern California, close four bakeries, eliminate about 325 routes, close 17 distribution centres and 19 outlet stores by October 29. The closings and consolidations are expected to affect approximately 1.300 employees.